Portinari Alterpiece

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Author : Hugo van der Goes
Date :1476-79
Oil on wood, 253 x 586 cm
Form :painting
Location :Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Scholarly writings often note the group of rustic shepherds bursting in on the Holy Family and the symbolism of the still life in the foreground; or the fact that the artist suffered from a mental and spiritual crisis around the time that this was painted. One theory is that van der Goes suffered from lead poisoning through the paints commonly used at the time. The book Compared to other Nativity paintings, this example is more somber and subdued; more definitely North European than its counterparts.

The patron, Tommaso Portinari was an employee of the Medici, working at the bank branch in Bruges. In typical Renaissance fashion, they are depicted in the right and left panels of the triptych. They also commissioned a portrait pair from Hans Memling. Tommaso was raised by the Medici, but this connection did not help him when financial troubles lead to the bank being dissolved and Portinari was fired. The piece was to be displayed in their family chapel at the Church of St. Egidio.

This piece was just so impressive in person. I did a group project presentation on this in college and then that summer, I went to Florence and was able to see it. I love the winter landscape in the background; it reminds me of Minnesota.